Head of Marketing (Live Events & Festivals)

J&T Business Consulting; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading event marketing firm in Manchester is seeking a Head of Marketing to oversee the marketing strategy for live events and festivals. The successful candidate will manage a team and collaborate closely with company Directors to drive audience engagement and brand growth. Required qualifications include substantial marketing experience in the entertainment sector and expertise in digital marketing strategies. This is a permanent, full-time position offering a salary between £40,000 and £60,000 per annum, plus various benefits.

Benefits

Annual bonus

Professional development opportunities

Casual dress code

Complimentary entry to festivals

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a senior marketing role within festivals or events.
• Proven success managing significant marketing budgets.
• Expertise in brand strategy and media planning.

Responsibilities

• Oversee marketing strategy for events.
• Manage and mentor internal marketing team.
• Monitor campaign performance metrics.

Skills

Leading marketing for major festivals

Managing six-figure budgets

Digital marketing trends

Brand storytelling

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Tools

Meta Ads Manager

Google Ads

Google Analytics

CRM platforms

Job description

Head of Marketing – Live Events & Festivals

Location: Manchester City Centre (on-site)

Salary: £40,000–£60,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Hours: Full-time, 9:00–17:30 Monday to Friday (weekend work required for events; midweek days off provided post-event weekends)

Contract: Permanent

Holidays: 28 days per year (including public holidays)

Benefits: Annual bonus, professional development opportunities, access to industry conferences and events, company socials, casual dress code, complimentary entry to festivals, and additional midweek rest days after event weekends.

The Role

The Head of Marketing will oversee the end-to-end development and execution of marketing strategy across all festivals and event brands. Working closely with company Directors, you will lead a talented in-house marketing team and external agencies to deliver impactful, data-driven campaigns that grow audiences, build brand equity, and drive revenue.

This is a senior leadership position requiring a balance of creative vision, commercial insight, and operational excellence. You will be responsible for shaping the brand narratives, ensuring campaigns connect authentically with audiences while achieving measurable business results.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and implement the full marketing strategy across digital, social, outdoor, print, PR, and partnerships.
• Develop integrated campaign calendars aligned with ticketing, announcements, and partner activations.
• Oversee campaign planning, ensuring budgets, timelines, and deliverables are achieved.
• Build and maintain strong, distinctive brand identities and tone of voice across all events.
• Manage, mentor, and grow the internal marketing team to deliver excellence and innovation.
• Coordinate external agencies (PR, media buying, creative, paid social) to ensure cohesive execution.
• Lead digital marketing initiatives, including paid media, CRM, influencer partnerships, SEO, and email marketing.
• Monitor and analyse campaign performance metrics, providing insights and reports to senior leadership.
• Identify and develop new brand partnerships, sponsorships, and growth opportunities.
• Represent the company at key industry events, conferences, and networking forums.

Candidate Profile

• Proven success leading marketing for major festivals, events, or entertainment brands (essential).
• Strong experience managing six-figure marketing budgets and delivering ROI-driven outcomes.
• Deep understanding of UK music culture, digital marketing trends, and the live events landscape.
• Exceptional skills in brand storytelling, audience engagement, and campaign strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and inspire high-performing creative and marketing teams.
• Commercially astute with a results-oriented approach.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable working under pressure in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Flexibility to travel and work on-site at events across the UK.

Experience & Skills

• Minimum 5+ years in a senior marketing role within the festival, live events, or entertainment sector.
• Expertise in digital marketing, brand strategy, PR, and media planning.
• Proficiency with Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads, Google Analytics, and CRM platforms.
• Strong reporting, analytical, and presentation skills.

Work Arrangement

This is a primarily on-site position based in Manchester City Centre. Travel to event sites, festivals, and partner meetings is required. Hybrid working options may be considered following a successful probation period.